2025 Varsity Football Schedule
August 22 – at Boone County High School
August 29 – vs. Ludlow High School
September 5 – vs. Green County High School
September 12 – at Holy Cross High School
September 19 - Open
September 26 – vs. Jackson City School (Homecoming)
October 3 – vs. Shelby County High School
October 10 – at Ohio County High School
October 17 – at Thomas Nelson High School
October 24 – at Lewis County High School
October 30 – vs. Scott High School

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From Facebook today about the Tom Ellis Athletic Memorial Foundation and improvements at Holmes.

The Bulldogs officially cut the ribbon on their newly renovated, state-of-the-art athletic facilities, including an upgraded weight room, football locker room, and the completely remodeled Lee Senior Gymnasium. The enhancements feature custom weight-lifting machines, a 50-yard indoor turf run, a batting cage, and multi-purpose flooring—an incredible investment in the health, development, and success of our students. These upgrades are part of an ongoing $26 million construction project on the Holmes campus.

The Tom Ellis Foundation is named in honor of the legendary Tom “Big Daddy” Ellis Sr.—a man known as “Mr. Bulldog” and “Coach.” He once held the roles of head coach for football, basketball, and baseball and served as Athletic Director at Holmes—all at the same time. His 1946 football team claimed a mythical state title, and he led two basketball teams to the Sweet 16. His legacy lives on not just in the field that bears his name, but in the countless lives he inspired.

Coach Ellis was inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame (1984), the Kentucky High School Sports Hall of Fame (1988), and the Greater Cincinnati Sports Hall of Fame (1999). His contributions to Holmes and Kentucky athletics are unmatched.

Congratulations to Holmes High School and the entire Bulldog community on this amazing milestone. Go Bulldogs! ????

This is a beautiful, top notch facility, if anyone was ever in the old senior gym, you would not know this place, the also have a drop down batting cage for baseball and softball. Also it looks like Holmes is looking at 40 plus players, still very young, but its exciting to see those numbers. 

 

That set up is amazing! I love seeing that!

I enjoyed going down there for an occasional game in the 80s and early 90s. Holmes would be up and down and I always liked the atmosphere.

Probably no BGPer old enough to remember and only me foggily, I think it was somewhere in late ‘50s when the Highland Bluebirds under Homer Rice (I think) went to the hole to play the Bulldogs under Tom Ellis.  A much anticipated matchup of 2 great times and great players ….maybe Bob White and Roger Walz were part of the rivalry(?).  Anyway Highlands came out in a previously unseen “no huddle, hurry up” offense completely catching the Bulldogs shocked and unable to counter.  Seems like final was a crazy 50 point win.  As good as Ellis was, Rice won the coaching scheme that game.

21 hours ago, Oldercoach said:

Probably no BGPer old enough to remember and only me foggily, I think it was somewhere in late ‘50s when the Highland Bluebirds under Homer Rice (I think) went to the hole to play the Bulldogs under Tom Ellis.  A much anticipated matchup of 2 great times and great players ….maybe Bob White and Roger Walz were part of the rivalry(?).  Anyway Highlands came out in a previously unseen “no huddle, hurry up” offense completely catching the Bulldogs shocked and unable to counter.  Seems like final was a crazy 50 point win.  As good as Ellis was, Rice won the coaching scheme that game.

Maybe 1960? Highlands won a late season game at Holmes 53-0 on their way to an undefeated season and a Class AA state championship. The only other blowouts during that time was a 58-7 Bluebirds win in Fort Thomas in 1957 and a 32-7 win at Holmes in 1958.

23 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Maybe 1960? Highlands won a late season game at Holmes 53-0 on their way to an undefeated season and a Class AA state championship. The only other blowouts during that time was a 58-7 Bluebirds win in Fort Thomas in 1957 and a 32-7 win at Holmes in 1958.

That sounds right.  8th grade year and just getting interested in traveling with an uncle to watch great teams.

Coach Ellis told me many years ago, Jack Huenefeld ( in that picture)  was the best player he ever coached.

I actually worked with Jack at what then was CG&E, good golfer as well. This year Bulldogs are extremely young, around 40 players, 20 of them are unexperienced freshman,  but its a good start to have the numbers up.

St Henry vs Holmes tomorrow night at 7pm at St Henry.  Starters will probably play the first half.  It will be interesting to see how this one plays out as both teams prepare for the regular season and St Henry’s first ever varsity game next week vs Holy Cross.  

18 hours ago, changeup said:

St Henry vs Holmes tomorrow night at 7pm at St Henry.  Starters will probably play the first half.  It will be interesting to see how this one plays out as both teams prepare for the regular season and St Henry’s first ever varsity game next week vs Holy Cross.  

Very interesting match up.